Despite a 7-point delay at the end of the first quarter (30-23), Wolves finally deliver the best first half of the two teams, thanks to a successful second quarter (28 points to 12/22, against 19 points at 9/24 for Toronto), and they point in the lead at the break, by a very short lead (51-49).
Upon returning from the locker room, the two teams took several long minutes to decide. Because before a one-sided end to the match, there is first a perfectly fair third quarter: 23 points on both sides, and this same gap of 2 points after 36 minutes (74-72).
Then there is that fatal fourth quarter for Wolves. On their floor, the locals sink in the final act, both offensively (17 points scored at 5/24, the Towns – Russell – Edwards trio accumulates 5 points at 2/10), and defensively (31 points against, despite an 8/21 from the Raptors). After an excellent end to the match against the Hornets the day before, the Wolves did not capitalize on the confidence gained and completely lost their way, for a final defeat of 12 points (103-91).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
The wreckage of Wolves starters, who all 5 have a low total of 52 points, at… 16/41 on shots. Only Karl-Anthony Towns survived, but the contribution from the bench was not enough to compensate, and Wolves therefore logically lost their footing at the end of the match.
Thaddeus Young finds his feet. For his second game with Toronto, the veteran interior finished with 10 points (4/5) and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench. As he had planned, he has integrated perfectly into his new team, where his versatility fits with the identity of the club.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Karl Anthony Towns. The only holder, and more generally the only Wolves player to have survived in attack (24 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals), “KAT” tried everything to try to win this match, the second of a “back-to -back” to home. In vain, and the pivot will now take the direction of Cleveland for the All-Star Weekend, during which he will participate in the 3-point contest, then especially All-Star for the Sunday game.
✅ Gary Trent Jr. In the absence of Fred VanVleet, the rear of the Raptors still caught fire, a recurring habit with him in recent weeks. Despite a greedy selection of shots (10/24), he planted 30 points on the Wolves defense, and notably planted the winning shot which definitively killed the match and increased the gap from +7 to +10 at the end of the game.
✅ Pascal Siakam. In the role of “glue-guy”, complement of “GTJ” in attack, the Cameroonian excelled. Also clumsy (7/17), he scored 17 points and compensated with a dense contribution in other areas: 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 steals (but also 6 lost balls…).
⛔️ Malik Beasley. Tough evening for the house joker, out of address and inspiration. He finished the game with 6 points at 2/11 on shots, including 10 from behind the 3-point line. The back persisted behind the arc, without success.
⛔️ Anthony Edwards. What a disappointing evening for “Ant”. A few days after a huge card against the Pacers, the “sophomore” has just chained a very complicated “back-to-back”: 9 points at 3/10 yesterday, then 6 points at 0/8 tonight! Saved by throws, he was not far from presenting a bubble in attack. The break is timely.
THE FOLLOWING
Minnesota (31-28): back to business next Thursday after the “break”, at home against Memphis
Toronto (32-25): it will be next Friday, on the floor of Charlotte
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